What They Don't Know Won't Hurt Them...

Alex could have stayed in bed all morning, curled up under the sheets. She'd had a long two days, planning for what seemed to be becoming Amy's biggest birthday ever. Stephanie and Alex had gone together to look at the birthday cake design Linda had picked and decided that Amy would only get more expensive as she grew. "Stephanie, you and Paul spoiling her doesn't help you know." Stephanie had laughed, "We spoil the boys too you know." Alex shook her head as she said it, "Not the way you do Amy. She's like your own personal doll. I promise you one thing. Your first kid is going to be a girl and when she's born she's going to be just as spoiled." But now was not the time to plan her future attack on their first child. Alex wanted sleep and plenty of it. Amy, however, had other plans, waking up and instantly running down the hall to Alexis' room, jumping up and down on the bed. "Whooooooa there little lady. Good morning to you too." Alex said, opening her eyes and pulling the covers off her head.

"My birthday Mom!!!"

"I know!," she said, grabbing Amy in mid jump and pulling her under the covers. She covered her in kisses, Amy giggling like there was no tomorrow. "I love my little buggie. How old ARE you?"

"Four!"

"Wow, four years with the craziest little kid around! Well come on! We have to take a shower and the decorator will be here soon and your jumpy house and cake and we have to get you in your pretty little dress and then everyone is coming to see you!"

"Everyone?!"

"Yes ma'am. Excited?"

"Oh boy!"

Amy jumped off the bed, running towards the bathroom, making Alex laugh hysterically. People had always told her Amy was a character and times like those were confirmation of that fact. She didn't get it from Alex. As funny and loud as she could be she was never like Amy, she got it from Dwayne she was pretty sure. It was hard to believe that Amy was now four, that it had been four years ago that she'd been 18 and pregnant. She had been Alex's whole world until recently and now as she grew, Alex felt she was growing as well. She pulled herself out of the bed, grabbing her cellphone and began to dial. She heard Vince talking to Linda as he picked up the home phone, talking about wrapping paper. She laughed at their back and forth conversation, listening until she finally got her father's attention with a loud, "Hello?"

"Morning Alex. Your mother is getting dressed now that she finally found the darn wrapping paper. How's my princess."

"Acting like one. She was my alarm clock, believe it or not. The alarm didn't even get to go off. Amy!," she called, hearing the shower begin to run, "Be careful! Turn it off until I get in there. Gatta go Dad, Amy is going to burn herself in there. Call when you're on the way."

"Got it."

Getting Amy ready was a struggle itself, along with ordering people around the house. Finally when Vince and Linda got there she could get her attention off Amy long enough to prepare herself. It'd taken ages to find something to wear. Being 22 she still had a youthful taste in clothing but around Amy's classmates parents and around the Titan offices she'd often felt uncomfortable if she wasn't wearing her designer suits. She would wear suits and office clothing as flattering to her age possible but in the end Alex rarely felt she was 22 anymore. Most 22 year olds were still looking for jobs, she'd rushed through college and already had a job most would die for. Eventually she chose clothing and was upstairs getting ready when she heard someone knock on her bathroom door. "Kurt?," she called out.

Kurt walked in, "Hey darlin'."

"Hi hun. You pick up Amy's present?"

"Sure thing. In the garage, locked it and everything so don't worry. Told Vince and Linda to keep her away too."

"Thanks Kurt," she said, getting off her chair in front of the mirror and kissing him, her arms wrapped around his waist, "You smell yummy."

"You said I WAS yummy last night."

Alex laughed, biting softly on his neck, then kissing the spot, letting go of him to fix his collar, "So sorry, I had forgotten. Well let's go, I hear my Dad greeting people when I'm sure he'd much rather be watching me do it."

"Are we telling people?," he asked, holding her in a way forcing her to look him in the eyes.

"I said I needed some time to think Kurt. Just wait a little will you please?" The night before had been the night she'd heard words she'd thought she'd never hear. As much as she'd wanted to say yes to him, she'd stalled, saying she needed time to figure it out. She'd yet to figure out a reason stopping her from saying yes except that she wasn't quite sure how Amy felt about him. She was very hot and cold, some days being a sweet as possible, the next day not wanting him to invade what she felt was her whole world.

Eventually Shane and Marissa with Kenyon and Declan, Stephanie and Paul had arrived followed by about 50 kids from Amy's school and dance classes. Wrestlers had shown up as well. She was outside her front door, talking with Amy's dance instructor when she heard 2 little girls call her name. "Alex!"

"Excuse me please," she said to Amy's instructor as she turned her attention to Dave's daughters, Ella and Jenny. "Hey girls!" She kneeled to their level, opening her arms to their hugs. "Jeez you guys got big. I have two tiaras special for you guys. They are upstairs in my room, I'll get them."

"Special?," Dave asked with a laugh, looking down at her.

"Yeah. Amy HAD to get one that was only for her and then Declan and Kenyon wanted special crowns the other boys couldn't have and so since the girls were coming I got them ones too. Hi Angela, you look great."

Angela merely smiled, grabbing onto Dave's arm. "Girls, say thank you."

"Thank you Alex," they said, with the same goofy smile Dave used so often.

"No problem, go inside and find Amy in the jump house. You guys remember how to get to the backyard right?" The girls ran off, followed by Angela instantly. Dave and Alex lingered outside."She still hates me eh?"

"I don't blame her," he said without thinking. He was trying to take a picture of her in his mind. She looked the way she always did, beautiful. A white polo, jean skirt, and white heels. His favorite part of her had always been her legs, they were strong from years of dancing, although her breasts weren't so bad either. It was obvious she'd already been playing with Amy, her hair pulled up loosely, yet perfectly, without a curl out of place. He would sometimes forget how much younger she was but it never stopped her from looking amazing.

Alex turned to him, looking confused, "What?"

"Alex look," he began before being interrupted by Kurt's call for her.

"Tell me later, okay?"

She left him behind, heading inside. He stayed there a while as he watched Dwayne's car pull up. He parked, exiting the car. Dwayne had never been there, looking over the house. As he closed his driver side door, Kaila exited the car as well, sans Dani. He approached the house, Dave watching.

"Where's the wife?," Dave asked with a laugh.

"Home. She had some business so I brought Kaila. You?"

"Inside with my girls."

As soon as he'd entered Alex's home, Dwayne began to look around. The house was covered in pictures, Amy's first bath, Amy's first birthday, Amy's first day at school. Pictures of laughter and smiles and naps. Paul carrying Amy at the beach, Shane holding her and Declan at a fair. Then came the pictures he didn't truly want to see. Alex hugging Matt in front of a car he'd spent plenty of money restoring at his home. Alex in her dance costume at a competition with her old partner, the last one she'd done. Alex kissing one of the new wrestlers', John Cena, cheek at a party. Pictures of her and Amy hugging Dave next to the pool at Stephanie and Paul's.

"She's had a life without you around you know," Dave said from behind him, "It didn't end when you left."

Suddenly, like a little bullet, Amy came running into the room, screaming. "Dave! You came! Jenny and Ella said you were!"

"Hey Aims. How old are you today?"

She held up two fingers on each hand, "Four! Who is that with Ella and Jenny?"

"Oh... their mommy Amy."

"Their mommy?"

"Well yeah silly," Dave said, kissing her cheek. "Didn't you want to play with them?"

"Yea. I wanted to say hi too! Oh!," her attention was suddenly drawn to Dwayne, giving him a small wave, "Hi Dwayne! You here for my birthday too?"

Dwayne smiled, reaching out and rubbing her face, "Wouldn't miss it princess. You see Kaila?"

"Outside." She'd lost interest for a second, looking around for a while until her gaze rested on a picture frame. "Dave remember the pool at Uncle Paul and Auntie Stephy? Can we go swimming soon? With Jenny and Ella? And Mommy too? And Mommy can take me all the way down!"

Dave laughed, picking the picture up off the table and holding it. "Sure. Me and my favorite ladies taking a swim. Nothing better than that. But we have a pool here silly girl."

"Yeah but Uncle Paul has a diving board!"

"You're too scared to jump."

"Not anymooooore!"

Dave kissed her cheek placing her down on the floor and patting her back in the direction to the backyard, "Go on, lead me to my other two princesses." As Amy laughed, running away, Dave turned to Dwayne with a smile before heading out. Dwayne was trying his best not to get angry the whole time, for the sake of Amy. As he headed towards the backyard, where Kaila had wandered off to with a bunch of kids, he found Alex, knelt before a closet, searching through a box.

"Alex?"

She turned her head around, looking up into his face. "Oh... Hey there. Glad... glad you made it. Amy is outside, probably fighting with a cousin or playing with Jenny. You can go say Hi."

"You look...." They were interrupted by a bunch of kids running past, oblivious to who was around, when they were alone again he smiled, "... beautiful. You look beautiful."

"Go outside Dwayne."

"When are we going to talk about the day in the office Alex?"

"Never. Simple."

Dwayne sighed, kneeling down to her level. Her eyes grew nervous. She hadn't expected her day to be that difficult. "Alex, you have no idea how much I'd wanted that. I never stopped loving you. You and Amy. I know I've missed out on alot but... I want to change that. She can't go around treating Dave like he's her Dad Alex."

The comment rocked her a little, "Excuse me? She doesn't act like that. She doesn't have a Dad. The way she treats Dave is how she treats Paul and Shane and Dad. She loves them."

"She should know who her damn father is Alex."

She sighed, "Is this really necessary today? It's Amy's birthday."

"You NEVER want to talk about it Alex."

"We will."

He got back up, looking down at her with longing in his eyes. "Alex, I swear you make me love you more and more without trying."

"Maybe I should start trying again, pushes you away it seems."

"Low blow."

She didn't have time to care she'd hurt his feelings. Alexis was busy running around the house as everyone talked, making sure everyone was fed and the kids weren't getting into trouble. Every now and then she'd catch Dave's eye, smile and continue on. She'd stop every now and then to talk to wrestlers, one brief instance to watch Amy begging John, whom she'd recently discovered began to grow grow on her, to enter the jump house with her and wrestle.

"Please?"

Alex laughed, coming up from behind John, who was talking to Amy through the walls of the jump house, and rubbed his back. "Yeah, get in there. This I wanna see"

"Haha, no thanks. I'll break that thing and then no more jump house."

"Boooo!" When Amy bounced off, John turned to Alex, kissing her cheek.

"Your kid is too cute for her own good."

"Thanks. Thanks for coming too John. She was happy when I said you would."

"No problem. Thank you for inviting me. I know how damn hard it can be to be the new guy, you make it easy for me. By the way, nice picture of us at that bar that one night, I didn't remember you taking it."

Alex laughed, sqeezing his arm a little and looking over her shoulder at Kurt. "He wasn't too happy to see it actually. But then again he hates my pictures with Dave and Matt and basically anyone not him for that matter so it's not a shock. And you being my favorite new guy probably doesn't help either."

"Well thanks beautiful. I would too. Amy gets the 'being too cute for her own good' thing from you." John felt her hand press on his chest as she giggled, pushing on him lightly. She shushed him, eyes wide.

"Don't let him hear you say that John. He's already jealous that I 'just had to' make friends with you."

"Heck, your the reason I'm here. Vince told me you pointed at me in the tape and said I was ready." It was true. One evening, as they all sat watching tapes sent from the developmental territory OVW, Alex looked up from some papers when she saw John. She instantly, without thinking twice, looked up and smiled.

"Dad, he's totally ready."

Vince had laughed, looking over at her with interest. "You're barely paying attention Alex. How would you know?"

"I do."

Alex smiled, remembering that night, giving his arm another squeeze as she walked away, "Thank me later hmm?"

She found other small moments to enjoy herself, laughing with JR and Jerry about her rumored debut as a wrestler, one that Alex was trying to avoid at all costs. There was a long playful argument with Mick about her future missing teeth and ear. Jeff pointing out that Amy would live her whole life with a MILF for a mother (which Matt and Alex quickly punched him for). There was a small tease from Dave that the if the pool wasn't closed off, she'd be thrown in it. Alex's fun was short lived however, having to return her attention to catering to everyone. Dwayne was busy watching over Kaila, trying his best not to feel uncomfortable around Vince who was pretending he didn't know a thing. Linda and Stephanie were trying their best to calm Alex down, who was beginning to feel overly stressed. "She's loving all this Alex. And it was very big of you to let Dwayne show his face," her sister said, sitting by her side when she'd managed to sit for a second.

"I know. Just have 10 different things going on at once. Surprised Dad or Shane haven't murdered him yet."

Marissa, who had overheard as she returned with Kenyon who had to be scolded for hitting his brother, laughed as she spoke, "Kidding? Took me forever to convince Shane NOT to kill him."

Alex looked for Kurt in the crowd, finding him talking to Paul, Shane and Dave. "Stephanie, Paul IS going to lay off Kurt now right?"

Stephanie looked in their direction and sighed, "He doesn't trust him, which he can't seem to explain why. You know Paul loves you like a sister. He's just looking out for you."

"Ug. Damn it I'm getting the cake out here, I need some chocolate or I'll die."

All the women laughed as she got up, heading back inside. Dave noticed, following her with his eyes. When she'd gotten inside he excused himself from the conversation, heading inside to find her. She was standing in the kitchen alone, placing candles on the cake. He cleared his throat to announce his presence. She turned to look at him over her shoulder with a small smile, "Hey, why so glum?"

"So where's the ring?"

Alex's eyes grew wide, turning completely to face him. The island in the kitchen sat between them and she suddenly began to hope he wouldn't come around it. "Did he tell you he asked?"

"He told us he asked, yeah. So?"

"Did he say I told him I wasn't sure yet? That I needed time to think?"

"Yeah sure. That means you'll say no right?"

He began to walk to her, around the island. Her heart beat increased, stress filling her. "I don't know. What does it matter Dave? I love him. We've been together a while. There's nothing stopping me from saying yes."

"Then why didn't you? Why are you waiting?"

They were speaking silently, standing in front of each other alone. They could hear the chatter outside, little kids laughing, and the small hum of the fridge. His closeness was suddenly making her nervous and it showed in her voice. "Dave what does it matter to you?"

"Alex, I've been trying to tell you...."

"What? You've told me you don't like him Dave. I know. It's fine. I get it."

"No you fucking don't Alex."

"What?," she asked, her temper rising, "What don't I fucking get? What the fuck am I too stupid to understand that YOU, Mr. Fucking Smart Ass, ge--."

For a brief second her heart stopped as his face approached. She told herself to move away but she didn't, instead feeling his lips press lightly against hers. She kept telling herself she should pull away but with every second that passed the kiss took on a life of it's on. He grabbed the back of her head, to stop any attempt of pulling away. She hadn't planned on it, sliding her arms around his neck. She moaned just a little as he pushed her back against the counter, pressing his body against her. Dave's mind was rushing, begging God not to let anyone interrupt his happiness in those minutes. She would try to speak, pulling away for an instance. He wouldn't allow it, pulling her close again. Eventually she'd laugh but he'd kiss her harder to stop her. She could have stayed there forever but the sound of the back door opening and Amy calling for her ended any spell they were under. She pulled away, turning around, placing a last candle into the cake. "Amy go outside, I'm bringing the cake."

"Okay! Hey everyone, cake!"

Alex picked up the cake, walking away from a still dazed Dave. "Alex, wait don't just go."

She turned back to look at him, shaking her head slowly. She was trying her best to calm her breathing as a sudden wave of guilt and sadness crept over her. "Let's just pretend it didn't happen okay Dave? Please. Please let's not do this."

She put on a happy face, singing along with everyone for Amy. Mentally, she was in two different places, one being cloud nine with happiness, the second was complete panic. She needed to scream but there was no way to do it. When Linda had taken away the knife from her hands to cut the cake herself she felt numb, letting the feelings rush over her. She could feel tears gathering and suddenly hands were pulling her away from everyone. "Alex, what's wrong?"

"Nothing Paul. I need to find Kurt, he needs to get Amy's present for me because I need to surprise her and...."

"I don't buy your whole 'I'm fine' shit. Come on Alex. I'm your best friend remember?"

"Brother-In-Law."

"And best friend."

"I know Paul. And really, love you. But not now. Please?"

"Expect a talk later."

"Gladly." She sighed, trying her best to pull herself together. She wasn't paying attention to Paul's gaze over her head (she wasn't quite tall at only 5 feet with 3 inches added from heels) to Dave who kept looking over at Alex and Paul. Paul made a face only Dave could understand, to indicate that they had to talk as well. Before he left Alex, she opened her mouth to ask, "How do I look?"

"Better," he said with a smile.

"Good, thanks for the chat."

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Dave sit down with Jenny, getting her to try cake. His eyes linked to hers instantly, telling her he had more to say but she could barely keep looking without feeling the tears swell up again. She scanned the garden for Amy until she found her, standing with Dwayne alone. He was kneeling down to her level, handing her a small box. "Paul, look." They both watched Amy's eyes grow widely as she opened the box. Neither could see what was inside, only Dwayne take it, pulling out a small necklace. "Shit," Alex said quietly as he put it on her giving her a small kiss on the cheek and saying one last thing before pushing her off in Alex's direction.

"Mom! Look!"

When Amy was close enough Alex could see the necklace better, a small white gold chain with a tiny diamond pendant. Alex's eyes grew wide, playing with it quietly, looking up at Amy's gleeful face. "What did he say?"

"He said Happy Birthday to me and that I'm very special and your a lucky Mommy to have me." The way she said it made Alex laugh, rubbing her daughter's cheek softly. "He said he loved me too. Mommy it's pretty!"

"Very baby. But... Mommy got you a present too. I guess now you won't want it. I'll tell Kurt to take it back okay?"

"No no no!," Amy screamed with excitment, "Where is it?"

"Go ask Kurt. He's over there."

Amy bolted off, almost running into Kurt's leg while he was busy talking with Vince. She was tugging at his pant leg, begging for her present. Kurt picked her up, carrying Amy inside.

"What is it?," Paul asked, not having been told what she was getting Amy. "Better not be a raincoat to match those boots we got her."

"Wait, you and Stephanie got her the coat too?! The boots were like 200 something. How much is the coat?"

"300-ish. What? She's going to be the cutest kid in school on a rainy day."

"I swear when you two have a kid I'm going to spoil it rotten. Wait, here he comes."

"He?" With that a small daschund puppy came running through the back door, Amy running behind it. Alex laughed, walking over to Amy who was on another planet with happiness. With the distraction of all the kids running towards Amy and the small puppy, Paul and Dave walked to each other. "Dave, seriously...," he began, leading him away for everyone and speaking as low as possible, "I told you not to. With Angela here?"

"I didn't exactly plan it."

"Don't you dare go fucking with her emotions too Dave. I love you man, like a brother. I bust my nuts to help you out because of just how much I love you dude but you mess with her and I swear...."

"I'm not messing with her emotions Paul. I don't understand any of this shit for you to fucking tear me a new asshole about it. I kissed her. I didn't go in there expecting to do it. Don't fucking take one moment of bliss away from me man."

Paul sighed, looking over at Alex, "She's my family. She's more than family. I was the only one Dave. I told you that. I was the only person she trusted. She just learned to trust her family with things."

Paul had paused a second, both of them watching Alex, Amy having jumped into her arms with kisses as she felt her prayers finally had been answered. When Paul turned his attention back to Dave, he noticed Dave was now looking at Dwayne. It was then he asked, "She told you didn't she? About Amy?"

"I never liked the cocky asshole."

"Just... fuck Dave just don't mess with her."

"I wasn't exactly planning on it."

By night time, most of the kids from Amy's classes with their parents were gone, all that was left were wrestlers and their families. And then, little by little, they all began to leave as well. Eventually her house was filled with her family, Dave and Angela with the girls, Kurt, John, Matt, Jeff, Amy, Randy Orton (whom had arrived a little late after a night out with the guys in town), Dwayne and his daughter.

"Mom, we're not leaving you here with all these damn kids. I don't need a break."

"Alex, you had a long day and you didn't get to enjoy any of it. Your father is heading home and I can watch all these kids, you all go out."

Melissa laughed, "No need to feel so bad Alex, she's the grandma, she can watch them. Plus half of them are passed out, only ones still up are my darn boys, Jenny and Amy."

"But she's not EVERYONE'S grandma here."

Dwayne walked into the kitchen, followed by Dave and Angela. "Really Linda," Dwayne began, "I'd feel too bad leaving you with her."

"Same here," Dave said, placing his hand on Alex's lower back quickly. She shot him a look before turning her attention back to her Mom.

"Mom go home."

"No, you go out. All of you. As your boss I demand it."

Dwayne laughed, crossing his arms, "I don't work for the WWE anymore Linda, remember?"

Linda shot Dwayne a look, with a small smile, "Oh I have other things to hold over you sir," she said, laughing at Dwayne's shock and quickly turning back to everyone who had assembled in the kitchen. "Go."

An hour later Alex was in a bar with everyone, trying her best to avoid Dwayne and Dave at all costs but no matter what she knew two pairs of eyes were watching her every move. Three when she'd leave Kurt's side. She and John had left to the bar, in an attempt to get more beer. "You drink like a fish and swear like a sailor. A woman after my own heart." Alex felt her cheeks turn bright pink, smiling at him widely.

"You have got to stop John Cena. You have a fiancee at home."

"A girlfriend. She's not liking this whole road thing. Plus it's not my fault you are just so damn pretty."

"You sound like Orton, better watch it, he's rubbing off on you."

John laughed, motioning for the bartenders attention again. "Nah, Randy can be a dick, I admit it. I'm not like him though, trust me on that."

Alex laughed, pinching his cheek with a teasing smile, "I know you're not. Just stating facts."

"You are too much John." She took two beers from the bartender, walking away. John had fallen in love with her the second he layed eyes on her. But eventually the physical attraction had turned into more. She wasn't just the prettiest face she'd ever seen. She was smart, she laughed at all his stupidest jokes when everyone else didn't, she smiled to encourage him when he didn't think he'd do alright. She had a presence he'd never experienced before. He'd considered his feelings about Amy, but after one tiny kiss on the cheek, the small seed of affection had been planted. Alexis was right, he wasn't single, neither was she, but he was beginning to only have eyes for her.

Dave was trying his best to act normal when Angela was around but all he wanted was to get Alex alone. Any time she kissed Kurt's cheek his anger flared just a tad. Drinking was not helping, the beer making the anger hard to hide. He was also beginning to dislike Alex's sudden attention to John, having remembered a time when Alex talk would be directed towards him solely. He was not alone in the jealously department. Dwayne felt his temperature rising with each act of affection towards anyone who wasn't him. He'd never been able to spend time out of an arena or hotel room with a group of people, and the single time he and Alex had drank to together had been in a hotel room, alone with one another. The situation was quite new to him. No one had questioned Dwayne's sudden involvement in Alex's life except for Kurt, who had asked why she would invite him to Amy's birthday.

"Well Amy played with his daughter the other day, figured it'd be nice for them to spend time together," she'd answered, turning her back to Kurt in an attempt to hide her nervousness.

"But the way you talk about him, it's like you two were friends or something."

She'd covered by saying that when she'd been on the road before, she'd happen to make friends with him. Thankfully, it'd been enough for Kurt to stop asking questions. Now, Kurt was too busy to notice that Dwayne's eyes said nothing about friendship.

"John!," she called over the noise. He turned his attention to her, enjoying the sound of his name said by her lips.

"Shoot Princess."

"Dance with me. Kurt doesn't and Dave doesn't and Paul is occupied and Shane is too."

Dave felt his temper rise again, trying his best to bite his tongue as he watched John's reaction. Kurt, for his part, was too busy talking with Randy to hear his girlfriend's conversation. Dwayne, hearing her voice call out for John, noticed Dave's face turning bright red.

"I'm not that great Alex, you'll be disappointed."

"I'm not that great either," she laughed, reaching out for his hand and pulling him into a crowd of people. There was barely any room to dance, more or less there was only enough room for everyone to grind upon each other.

"You liar," he said, talking into her ear, "You know you know how to dance."

Alex had thrown her arms around his neck, pulling his body to hers. Regularly, she'd be doing that with Dave, one of the many reasons why Angela had grown to dislike her husband's relationship with Alex. No matter how much Dave disliked dancing, he'd pretend to feel pressured into joining Alex. This time however, he wasn't the one she'd pulled away and it was killing him. Alex was too drunk and too into that moment to pay attention to the eyes that followed her every move. "You're a damn liar too Cena." The beer she'd consumed had let her attraction to John rear it's head. His hands were holding her hips, close to his body. Dave and Dwayne watched, and as Angela excused herself for the restroom and everyone's attention was far off, Dwayne's voice spoke loud enough for only Dave to hear. "How's it feel Dave? To be pushed to the side?"

"Shut up Dwayne. She's dancing with him. No harm in that."

"I don't know, she doesn't just seem to be dancing with the kid. I know those eyes. Bet Kurt doesn't even get those eyes. She's looked at me like that before. Heck, I've had to watch her look at you that way." Dave hated that Dwayne was right, Alexis' eyes spoke louder than words.

Alex had never left that comfortable before with anyone, the only person she'd come close to that feeling with was with Paul. John was penetrating every sense in her body in a way no one else quite had yet. Dave would usually be the one she'd force to dance with her, knowing that he hated to, but after the kiss in the kitchen she wasn't quite sure it would be a good choice, not to mention that Angela being there made it a little harder for her. But it was in those moments she realized she'd been dying for a chance to be alone for two seconds with John, to figure out what exactly was going on there. She let a hand slide from around his neck to his chest, feeling every muscle flex beneath his shirt. She could died in those seconds a very happy woman but suddenly she felt another hand grab her side, right above one of John's hands, and turned her around to face him.

The look on Dave's face told her all she needed to know about just how furious he was with her, knowing he had a way of hiding his anger with everyone but her. "You owe me a dance kid," he said, pulling her closer.

She looked over her shoulder at John, winking at him with a smile, "I swear you're my new dance partner John. Lemmie give this asshole what he wants."

"No problem, gatta head out anyways."

"Why?"

"Heading back to Tampa in about 4 hours, only got a early flight. Gatta go pack." He grabbed her face, kissing her forehead with force, "Thanks again princess."

"Love you John."

He gave Dave a wide smile and turned away, heading to Randy to leave. She kept looking at him until she felt Dave's hand lead her face to him, touching her chin lightly, "So was all that on purpose or do I seriously need to kick his ass?"

"You're kidding right? Where's Angela?"

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing her body to his. She groaned a bit, though it was hidden by the loudness in the room. She sensed the first growing feeling of confusing inside herself, never having been a position like that before. Looking up into Dave's eyes, John had left her mind, although not entirely. She also knew somewhere in the room two other sets of eyes were watching her every move. "She's somewhere, but I'm not worried about that right now."

"Dave, this isn't the time. Plus she hates it when you're with me so don't go causing a fight."

"Alex, you're fucking mad if you think I'm letting you marry Kurt."

"You're not my father. You're just my friend."

He pressed his face deeply into her neck, causing her skin to tingle a bit, "Alex stop doing this, Kurt isn't what you are looking for and you damn well know it. You barely payed attention to him, heck you payed more attention to Dwayne. Just stop it. I want you, I always have."

She placed on her hand on his chest, taking a second to enjoy the beating of his heart in his chest and then pushed him away, looking into his eyes. "God damn it I hate when you do this. You make my whole life difficult."

~~~~~

"Dwayne, open that damn car door or I'm dropping your baby on the floor." Alex was carrying Kaila about an hour later as she helped him get her into his car.

"Trying Alex, hold on will you?"

Alex couldn't help but laugh, placing Kaila into the back seat and placing a seat belt on her. She tucked her in with a blanket and small pillow, then shut the door lightly enough not to wake her.She turned, Dwayne's hand stopping her from waking away as he knew she would attempt to. "Alex, what are you doing with all of them? You're wasting time when you know...."

".... That you are NEVER going to make a honest woman out of me."

Dwayne paused, watching the sudden sadness sweep over her face again, similar to their day in her office. "Alex, why didn't you just stop and tell me? You could have. Things could have been different."

"I'm just not too sure that they would have been. Dwayne, you still would have picked your wife. I'm not stupid. I never was. I did fine without you anyways. I survived. What I do now... it's not your concern."

"Yes it is. You and Amy."

"Took you almost four years to even come looking Dwayne. Four years. If you even had a worry...."

He went to punch the car, stopping when he remembered a sleeping Kaila inside. "Alex... you don't know how it felt.... I was sitting in the catering area when Vince walked in. Everyone had been wonder why out of no where you left. And there was the answer. I knew Amy was mine. And then... I couldn't go near you. All I wanted was to get to you but you... you never told me. How could I come looking when you made it seem like you didn't want me there. I... fucked up." The tears fell from her eyes at those words, realizing just how much she'd wanted to hear him say it. He reached up to wipe a tear off her cheek, Alex close her eyes as soon as his hand touched her face. "Alex, you still love me."

"That's my curse, isn't it?," she said, opening her eyes. "Dwayne, I'm not doing this today...."

She didn't expect his lips to touch hers, his hands cupping her face lightly. When he pulled away his voice cracked, "You're still mine."

Finally, Alex had about all she could take, freeing herself from his hands and heading inside. As she shut her front door she broke out in tears, sliding onto the floor with sobs. She cried a bit, letting out a much needed cry after a very stressful day. Suddenly she felt a small little warm body jump into her laugh, too small to be Amy. She knew Marissa and Shane were in the spare bedroom with the boys and her mother was in her bedroom sleeping. Opening her eyes, she found Amy's new puppy looking up at her. He suddenly licked her face, causing her to laugh. "No wonder Amy named you Goofy... come on little one, into the kitchen with you."

She placed the puppy in the kitchen, putting up a small puppy fence she'd bought, and headed upstairs to her bedroom for a change of clothes. She found Linda sitting up, flipping through the channels on Alex's TV. "So you have fun out?"

"No...," Alex said, pulling her shirt off and pulling on a tank top. Once it was on she pulled off her skirt for a pair of pajama bottoms and sat on the bed, pulling a throw blanket over herself and laying down, her head on her mother's shoulder. "I think I'm becoming a nun."

"Oh. Your father will love that," she laughed, holding Alex, much like when Alex was in high school and heartbroken. "You'll figure it all out Bean. You always do."

Alex hoped she was right, but knowing her luck, she was sure it wasn't exactly going to be easy.